Defense Minister Forms Investigation Team To Investigate Alleged Corruption In Asabri

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto (Mery Handayani / VOI)

JAKARTA - Defense Minister (Menhan) Prabowo Subianto admitted that he had formed an investigation team to investigate allegations of corruption within the Indonesian Armed Forces (Asabri) Social Insurance. This investigation team is tasked with investigating the decline in assets belonging to the insurance company for the retired army officer.

"Yes, we have formed Asabri an investigation team," said Prabowo, after a hearing (RDP) with Commission I DPR, Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Monday, January 20.

The former Kopassus Danjen emphasized that the team he formed was focused on finding solutions to recover Asabri's shrinking assets. In fact, this team is already on track to pursue Asabri's lost assets.

"I also think that law enforcers have taken action, so we will enforce the law," he said.

Previously, the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menkopolhukam) Mahfud MD said that state losses ranged up to IDR 10 trillion, but after meeting with the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir, he actually said that the state losses caused by PT Asabri can reach more than that number.

However, he did not want to say what the exact figure was, because, according to Mahfud, the Police would confirm this again when conducting the investigation.

On that occasion, Mahfud also asked members of the TNI and Polri not to be discouraged and to continue carrying out their duties. This is because, even though PT Asabri's shares fell sharply, the insurance company was still able to guarantee them.

"So Asabri's money has fallen sharply but its liquidity can still guarantee TNI and Polri soldiers, there is no need to worry. But this unnatural decline will still be investigated by the Police and I as Coordinating Minister will follow this. So soldiers do not be upset, just work," he said.

As previously reported, Asabri had denied allegations of internal corruption or fraud. President Director of PT ASABRI Sonny Widjaja emphasized that there was no problem with the company's internal conditions.

According to him, the news about Asabri that circulated widely in various media did not match the real situation. "Asabri's operational activities are running normally and well. Asabri can fulfill all claim submissions on time, ”said Sonny in a statement received by VOI, Tuesday, January 14.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani admitted that she was preparing a scheme to save PT Asuransi Jiwasraya (Persero) 's customers' funds as well as soldiers' funds at PT ASABRI. The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) will bring this case to the DPR.